The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 16) urged clients administered with seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV) on or after June 6 in the clinic of Dr Ma Ho-ming at Shop 7, G/F, Block B, I-Feng Mansions, 237A To Kwa Wan Road, to contact the doctor as soon as possible for assessment and appropriate follow-up as expired vaccines might have been given.

The CHP followed up a public complaint and conducted an inspection at the above clinic, during which records were found of expired FluQuadri Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) with expiry dates on June 5 (Pediatric for 6 to 35 months of age) and June 22 (for 3 years of age and older) being administered.

Initial enquiries revealed that 10 eligible children and 10 eligible elderly persons had been administered with expired SIVs in the clinic since June 6 under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS). Investigations showed that there might be other clients vaccinated with those SIVs not under the VSS in the clinic as well.

"According to the vaccine manufacturer concerned, expired vaccines with declined efficacy will not be effective in protecting recipients from infections. So far, no cases of adverse events associated with vaccination of FluQuadri QIV 2016/17 have been received," a spokesman for the CHP said.

In view of the incident, Dr Ma has been delisted from the VSS and follow-up actions will be taken for the claims concerned.

The CHP attaches great importance to the service quality of government-subsidised programmes and patient safety. In the VSS Doctors' Guide, briefings and letters delivered to enrolled doctors before the VSS launch in October 2016, they were reminded to properly dispose of expired vaccines to avoid mistakenly administering them to clients.

As some SIVs expired on May 31, the CHP particularly drew the attention of enrolled doctors in early May to the expiry date and they were again reminded to check the expiry date of SIVs before vaccination. The CHP has issued an additional reminder further to this incident.

"Investigations are ongoing and we will continue to closely monitor the incident," the spokesman said.